Stretching device.



E. BURKS.

STRETCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATIONLEDMAYIS'W Patented sept. 17,1912. V

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E. BURKS.

STRETCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1s, 1912 1,039022 Patented sept. 17, 1912.

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PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR BURKS, F ELDORADO, ILLINOIS.

STRETCI-IING DEVICE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led May 13,

Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

`1912. Serial No. 696,959.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR BURKE., a citizen of the United States,residing at Eldorado, in the county of Saline and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stretching Devices;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in stretching devices.

One object of t-he invention is to provide a stretching device which maybe employed for stretching carpets, curtains, or other fabrics.

Another object is to provide a stretching device of this character whichwill be simple, strong, durable, and inexpensive inconstruction,'eiiicient and reliable in operation, and well adapted tothe purpose for which it is designed.

`W ith t-hese and other objects in view, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts as will bel more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a perspective view of thestretching device showing the same arranged and in use as a carpetstretcher; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 8is a side view of the stretcher showing the position of the parts beforethe carpet is stretched; Fig. 4 is an inverted perspec tive view of oneof the members of the stretcher; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the devicearranged as a curtain stretcher; Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on theline 6 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on the line 7 7 ofFig. 5; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the side connectingpieces employed when the device is used as a curtain stretcher; Fig. 9is a similar view of the other side connecting piece.

My improved stretching device comprises a pair of stretching members 1and 2. The member 1 comprises a longitudinally disposed bar 3 to theouter end of which is bolted or otherwise detachably secured a cross bar4 having in one side near its outer edge a series of stretching pins 5which are adapted to be engaged with the fabric to be stretched. Theinner end of the bar 3 of the stretching member 1 is bifurcatcd or hastherein a longitudinal notch or recess 6 which forms parallel lugs 7. Inthe lugs 7 near their outer ends are alined bolt holes 8 t-he purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter described.

The stretching member 2 comprises a lo-ngitudinal bar 9 to the outer endof which is bolted or otherwise detachably secured a cross bar 10 havingin one side adjacent to its outer edge a series or pointed stretchingpins 11 which when thedevice is employed for stretching a carpet co-actwith the pins 5 in the cross bar 4 of the member 1. On the inner end ofthe bar 9 is a longitudinally extending tongue 12 which is adapted tofit between the lugs 7 and is adjust-ably and pivotally connected tosaid lugs by a bolt 13 which is engaged with the holt holes S in thelugs 7 and with one of a series of bolt holes 14 in the tongue l2.

Arranged through the center ofeach of the bars 3 and 9 of the stretchingmembers l and 2 is a row of stretching pins 15 which lare used when thestretching device is employed for stretching curtains and the like.

In using the stretching members 1 and 2 for stretching a carpet or thelike, the inner ends of the bars 3 and 9 thereof are swung 'upwardly ontheir pivotal connections thus drawing the cross bars 4 and 10 on theouter ends inwardly to the desired extent, whereupon, the stretchingpins 5 and 11 on the cross bars 4 and 10 are engaged with the carpetnear the opposite edges thereof. After the device has thus been enlgaged with the carpet pressure is applied to the pivoted inner ends ofthe bars thus forcing said ends downwardly and the cross bars 4 andvlOoutwardly which operation will effectively stretch the port-ion of thecarpet between said cross bars and will hold the same in t-he stretchedposition until tacked or otherwise fastened as clearly shown in Fig. lof the drawings.

In addition to the members 1 and 2 I also provide side connecting bars16 and 17 which are employed when the device is to be used forstretching curtains and the like. When the device is to be employed forstretching curtains o-r similar fabrics the members 1 and 2 aredisconnected at their inner ends by removing the bolt 13 and saidmembers are placed side by side at the desired dist-ance apart with thecross bars 4 and 10 arranged in line as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings. After the members 1 and 2 have been separated and beforearranging the same as aboye described, the bars 3 and 9 are removed fromthe cross bars A4 and 10 and said bars 3 and 9 are turned 1l of thecross bars 4 and 10. The bars 3 and 9 after being reversed are againsecured to the cross bars by their attaching bolts 18 as shown. Afterthe members 1. and 2 have thus been arranged the connecting bar 16 isadjustably secured to the free end of the bar 3 by a bolt 19 which isengaged with a bolt hole in the bar 16 and with one of a series of boltholes 2O in one of the lugs 7 of the bar 3. The opposite end of the bar16 is secured to the tongue 12 on the adjacent end of the bar 9 of themember 2 by a bolt 21 which is engaged with a slot 22 in this end of thebar 16 and wit-h one of a series of bolt holes 23 in the tongue 12. Theopposite ends of the members 1 and 2 are adjustably connected by theconnecting bar 17 which is secured at one end to the bar 3 and cross bar4 by the bolt 18 which fastens these parts together and at its oppositeend the bar 17 is secured to the bar 9 and cross bar 1() of the member 2by the bolt 18 which fastens these parts together said bolt beingengaged with a slot 24 in this end of the bar 17. then the members 1 and2 have been connected by the bars 16 and 17 in the manner described, itwill be seen, that these parts form a stretching rame which may beincreased or diminished in size in one direction by means of the slots22 and 24 in the connecting bars 16 and 17 which will permit f themember 2 to be adjusted toward or from the member 1. The lateraladjustment of the frame is provided for by the bolt holes 20 and 23 inthe bars 3 and 9 of the members l and 2, whereby, the bar /16 may beshifted toward'or from the bar 17 and secured in its adjusted positionsby the bolts 19 and 21 which are engaged therewith and withk the boltholes 2O and 23 as will be readily understood. After the members 1 and 2and the connecting bars 16 and 17 have i' been adjusted in the mannerdescribed to form a frame of the desired size the curtains or otherobjects to be stretched are fastened to the frame by engaging the endsthereof with the pins 15 on the barsV 3 and 9 of the members 1 and 2while one of the side edges A pins 25 in the connecting bar 16.

By constructing and" arranging my improved stretching device as herein,shown and described, it will be seen that the same may be readilyconverted into eitherl a carpet stretcher' or a curtain stretcher,whereby, the carpets, curtains, or similar fabrics may be evenly oruniformly stretched. When the device is used as a carpet stretcher theentire Vwidth of the carpet to which the stretcher 1s applied isstretched in one operation and will be securely held until fastened.

It will be noted that the device consists of but few parts which aresimple and inexpensive vin 4construction and which may bereadilydetached land closely packed together for storing or shipping.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of the inven tion will bereadily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruct-ion may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined andclaimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a stretching device of the character described, a pair of stretchingmembers coniprising longitudinal bars having in one end a series of boltholes, cross bars secured to the 'opposite ends of said longitudinalbars, stretching pins arranged in said cross bars, a connecting barhaving therein near one end a bolt hole and near t-he opposite end aslot, fastening bolts adapted to be engaged with said bolt hole and slotand with said series of bolt holes in the longitudinal bars 'of saidstretching members, a second connecting bar having therein near one enda bolt hole and in the opposite end a slot, fastening bolts engaged withsaid bolt hole and slot and. with the adjacent parts of the longitudinalbars and cross bars of said stretching members, whereby, these parts aread'- EDGAR BURKS.

Witnesses:

WV. J. IIALEY,

BEN BROMLETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

